The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-12-15
OUR POSTAL SYSTEM.
s ssENDrN0 LErTERs AT ONE TIME AN
ExPENsIvE BUSINESS.
now Correspondence Was Conducted IN
the Early Days Of the Country Charges
Made According to Distance Carried
Various Rsductions-Ths First stamps.
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The postoffice was an American institution
almost from the time of the earliest settle
ment Of the country. II was originally a
receptacle in coffee-house or public tavern,
where letters from abroad were deposited,
and taken by those to whom they were ad-
dressed, or carried to them by their neigh
bors. In time there was sort of postal
service established between the several colo
nies. In 1872 there was post to go monthly
from New York to Boston," Good old John
Haywood, who in 1880 became the worthy
postmaster at Boston, and the first postmas-
ter in America. employed chance convey.
ance, with "by the kindness Of some trav.
eler. as his postal service.
One Of the earliest acts of the Continental
Congress was the establishment of several
postofiices and post route from Falmouth,
In Maine, TO Savannah, in Georgia. In 1887
Benjamin Franklin was appointed postmas-
ter at Philadelphia. At that time he was
young man, and his connection with the
postal service of the government continued
for over forty years. For many years prior
to '1776 the postage was paid in currency,
and wsa. increased as the value Of the cur
rency deprecated until it became impossi-
BILE to keep up with the decreasing value,
when the rate was reduced and made pay.
able in specie
The Postotfice Department of the United
States government was organized in 1859, on
model of the like department in the Colo
nial government. The first schedule of rates,
which was established by the law that or.
ganiaed the postoffice, was as follows: For
every letter consisting of one piece OF paper
for any distance not exceeding 40 miles,
cents; for any distance not exceeding 16C
miles, LIZ cents; not exceeding 800 miles,
IL cents; not exceeding 500 miles. 20 cents; ;
any distance over 500 miles, % cents.
Benjamin Franklin was appointed the first
Postmaster General, and his almost lifelong
experience IN the postal service was OF great
oenent 10 the country. Inc nrst postage act
was passed in l7S2, the rates OF postage being
nxed by the act as follows: For ~ miles ana
under cents; over ~ miles ana not ex,
ceeding " miles, Genus; Deeween " ano
lou niles ~ Genus Detweeh ioo anu ioo
miies' ~ cehts petweeh Aov anu NU miles,
10 cehtsi Detween DoV anu =" miles, -
Genus oesweeh Ioo ana ooo mics ~ cen's'
DetWeen ooO ana 4oO miles, ~ cents; over
4oo miles, 70 cents. Ihese h1gh ana various
rates amounted almost 10 prohiDition
OF correspondence, especially among the
lanollns CLASSES lhere were iew pos.olnces'
unu now 'nere are more AZ slhs'e o.aee @
vna,. snele "ele III 'ne e,i'ire country IA LOW.
~ A'oo VIC ia0e0 "ere oAanseu' .ne Ao"es'
rate was increased 70 cents ana the low
est distance TO ~ miles. In 1915 the min
imum rate was again reduced to cents,
and the distance to 30 miles, only three rates
being established. Eighteen cents carried
letters 4oo miles, and for longer distances 25
cents was charged. These rates were estab-
lisneo aiter q strong demand by the people
Ior reouction. Inc unit OF charge was one
sneeS OF piece OF paper. There were no en-
veiopes at that time. A letter was so written
on piece OF paper that one side OF one part
OF it.was LETT blank. When folded, this blank
ade became the back ofthe letter, ON whichthe
address was written. To write, fold, seal and
address letter properly in what looks to US
as the primitive days of correspondence re-
quiied more ingenuity than 1t does now for
one to pack summers wardrobe for trip
,u.o 'ne country. Inc charge Ior postage
oe,ns On .ne single piece OF paper without
Ie,ere.ce 70 ia weient' care was taKen ny
voiu,nouS ie.'er w,i1eis.aho more people
WOE 1ons letters tnen tnan now-to use
~ - iaise . sneet as tney conveniently couid.
.ne use oi tne maii ior sehoing commercial
psp. was very expensive because each
Sa .a.s u.ai' ~ pn,, upon separate piece OF
r. rr, - s.L ~ SEeu ~. on sA.la pe'ase up 70
-. =. .Ao:u. .ne elesuia'lon was tnas iet-
rats. ono mo r. s 49, =, papei wss 'naisea ooupie